Research Activities

Research Projects

FY 2008/2009 Research Topic: 1-05
Prospect of the Indian Democracy: The Stability and the Limit of Democratic Regime in the Era of the Multi-party System and Economic Growth

Outline

The purpose of this study group is to examine the performance of the democratic system of India, as well as her capability to adapt to the rapidly-changing political-economy, such as the frequent changes of coalition governments through election after the 1990s, and the political or social changes caused by the economic structural reform started in 1991. In this year, we want to identify first what kind of political problem is in each field of the India politics, and examine the problem-solving capability and stability of Indian democracy. Especially, We would like to divide research topics into two parts, ones related to the democratic process and institution, and other topics being outside the democratic process and institution. The former includes, the party politics and election, the constitutional amendments, the politics of economic reforms and labor movement, the problems of civilian control, the panchayati raj institutions, etc. The latter includes the Hindu nationalism and communal violence, the ultra-leftist movement, namely, Naxalite movement, in backward regions, the secessionist movement in the north-east region, etc. The comparative study of the two group of topics is expected to show the unique mutually-complementary relation between the two areas.

Information of the Research Project

Norio Kondo ed., Prospect of the Indian Democracy: The Stability and the Limit of Democratic Regime in the Era of the Multi-party System and Economic Growth, Institute of Developing Economies, 2008, is downloadable from the Home Page of IDE.